So, you think you’re too “smart” to ever join a cult? Maybe you are and maybe, just maybe, if the messaging were right and the leader was charismatic enough you’d drop everything and move to a commune in the desert! Join Jen and Carolyn as we break down the reasons why people join cults (which has nothing to do with intelligence) and what makes so many cult leaders so damn charismatic. We'll also discuss how ideas that start off as beautiful and inclusive can end in something as horrific as the mass suicide/murder of close to 900 people.
6 of the Most Infamous Cults in History
How Do Normal, Successful, and Smart People End Up Joining a Cult?
What Is a Cult? 10 Warning Signs
How to identify a cult: Six tips from an expert - CBS News
Are Cults Legal? - HG.org
14 Characteristics of A Cult Leader-Psyc Mechanics
The True Story of Brainwashing and How it Shaped America
What is Cognitive Dissonance
Festinger, L. (1957). A Theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
BITE Model by Steve Hassan
Cult Recovery Resources
